Queens Park rallies to overcome Thistle

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Queens Park made it two wins from two games when they beat Thistle 6-3 in their Southland Football premier men's Donald Gray cup clash at the ILT Turf in Invercargill on Saturday.

Queens Park was made to work hard for the win with the less fancied Thistle unit rushing to an early 2-nil lead through goals from Todd Findlater and Paul Lemon.

Queens Park regrouped from the setback and began to show some character with a series of swift attacks against their opponent culminating in Stu Kent reducing the score to 2-1 with a direct strike from a well-taken free kick.

Five minutes later George Edwards levelled the score at 2-2 when he successfully tried his luck with a volley from long range that eluded Thistle keeper Josh Collins.

Queens Park then went ahead 3-2 before halftime with a rare, but fine goal from Jordan Coutts.

Thistle began the second half as they started the first and a second goal from Todd Findlater levelled the score at 3-all.

However, Park began to dominate play and further goals from Edwards, his second, Matty Burgess and Jordan McIntosh gave them a 6 goals to 3 buffer they defended until the final whistle.

Youngster McIntosh was debuting for Queens Park following his transfer from Southend United mid-week.

At Surrey Park No 1 Old Boys began their campaign in fine style with a resounding 7-nil win over Waihopai.

Old Boys scored regularly in the first half and, despite squandering several chances, goals from Atain Halley, David Mwangi, and Callum Smith 2, gave them a well deserved but conservative 4-nil lead going into halftime.

It was much of the same in the second spell as Waihopai resisted many Old Boys attacks with speculative clearances and some excellent work, once again, from their experienced goal keeper Shane Harpur.

By contrast, at the other end the Old Boys defenders were ensuring their keeper Mitch Fowler was being very much starved of work to do.

Old Boys broke down Waihopai's new found resistance at the 15 minute mark in the half when Mike Preddy was on hand to slot home a goal to increase their lead to 5-nil.

Goals from Joel Fletcher and a second to Preddy sealed Waihopai's fate as Old Boys, for whom Baraa Toubat turned in a strong performance in midfield, protected their 7-nil lead through to the end of the game.